Monroe Among CT Towns In Coronavirus 'Red Zone'

MONROE, CT — As the coronavirus delta variant continues to spread throughout Connecticut, several communities, including Monroe, are now considered among the "red" or highest infection level, according to state health officials.

Monroe reported an infection rate of 28.7 per 100,000 people for the most recent survey period (see the interactive alert level map below).

A community is considered to be in the red zone if it has 15 or more COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people.

"After weeks of seeing very low case rates in Monroe, our numbers have risen over the last couple of weeks and like many towns in our state we have returned to the 'red' category on the DPH map," said Monroe First Selectman Ken Kellogg in a statement. "We are currently averaging roughly 5 new cases per day, which is similar to what we observed in mid-April of this year. We are also seeing scenarios of multiple cases being reported in a single household."

Despite the recent increase in cases, Kellogg said he is not going to require residents to wear masks at this time.

"While I am not issuing a town-wide mask order at this time, I am asking residents to be vigilant and to exercise individual responsibility," Kellogg said. "Please consider the current CDC recommendation to wear a mask inside public spaces, especially in crowded locations and where children under 12 are present."

As for Monroe's vaccination rate, the state Department of Public Health reports that 65.57 percent of Monroe's population is fully vaccinated (see the interactive vaccination map below).

Click here to read Kellogg's full coronavirus update.